O&L BrandX named Agency of Year
O&L BrandX, the full-service creative and experiential marketing agency of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, was crowned Agency of the Year at the inaugural MTC Branding & Marketing Excellence Awards on Friday evening. The accolade capped a three-day MTC Branding and Marketing Indaba, serving as the most coveted award of the night.
The O&L Group secured a commanding double victory as Namibia Dairies’ MoreToLove campaign for the iconic Oshikandela brand was named Advertising Campaign of the Year. These wins reinforced a standout evening for the Group at the gala dinner held at the Windhoek Country Club Resort.
Patricia Hoeksema, Managing Director of O&L BrandX, said the recognition affirms the agency’s commitment to building beloved brands through work rooted in authenticity, care, and genuine passion. These core characteristics of the O&L Group’s Persona echo this year’s Indaba theme, “Marketing from the Heart.” As a proudly Namibian-owned agency, O&L BrandX carries the responsibility of growing local brands to their fullest potential and demonstrating that world-class work is created at home.
“This is a deeply proud moment for the entire BrandX team. Agency of the Year is not built on a single campaign; it is earned through a year of relentless innovation, exceptional delivery, and genuine investment in the people, platforms, and partnerships that make great work possible,” Hoeksema said.
Dalinka Alberto, Marketing Manager at Namibia Dairies, noted that the MoreToLove win reflects the deep emotional connection Oshikandela shares with Namibian consumers. “Oshikandela is more than a product; it is part of Namibia’s daily life and culture. The MoreToLove campaign was built from real moments and real people. To have it recognised as the country’s best advertising campaign is a testament to what happens when a brand leads with heart.”
The Excellence Awards were introduced this year as part of the second MTC Branding and Marketing Indaba, which drew more than 400 delegates from across the continent. An independent panel of six judges evaluated 109 entries across 15 categories, with 44 submissions reaching the nomination stage.
The judging panel noted that the winning entries possessed the “H-factor”—work that connects on a human level. Judges remarked that the strongest campaigns were unapologetically Namibian, favouring authentic local storytelling over borrowed aesthetics.
O&L BrandX’s submission highlighted several milestones, including the launch of CollabX—Namibia’s first structured agency-led influencer programme—a pioneering partnership with the global platform Sprout Social, and a team-wide AI for Marketing Accelerator programme.
The O&L Group congratulates all winners and nominees and commends MTC for establishing a platform that elevates branding and marketing standards across Namibia and the continent.
